Transportation Projects
Coachella Valley I-10 Corridor Projects:
Bob Hope Drive/Ramon Road – Bob Hope Bridge Dedicated September 23, 2011
Originally projected to cost $38 million, Caltrans began construction on this $25.5 million project February 3, 2010. Extends Bob Hope Drive to Varner Road with a new eight-lane bridge over I-10 with new on- and off-ramps. This interchange project received $23.5 million in stimulus funds, with other funding comes from the Interstate Maintenance Discretionary Fund and the Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fund (TUMF). The project was made possible by support from CVAG and the Riverside County Transportation Commission. This project is estimated to create 500 new jobs over the life of the project.
Palm Drive/Gene Autry Trail – Construction Began March 1, 2010
Originally projected to cost $33 million, Riverside County began construction on this $17 million project March 1, 2010. Replaces the existing two-lane overcrossing with a six-lane overcrossing and bike lanes, in combination with a project to widen the Gene Autry Trail Bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad. In addition to $10.4 million in stimulus funding, other funding comes from the Federal Highway Administration, the Redevelopment Agency, TUMF, the City of Palm Springs, and other local funding. This project is estimated to create 350 new jobs over the life of the project.
Indian Canyon Drive – Construction Began August 23, 2010
Construction on the Indian Canyon interchange project began on August 23, 2010. This project will demolish the existing overcrossing and replace it with a new six-lane overcrossing, including bike lanes on each side. It will also widen portions of 20th Avenue and Garnet Avenue, improve traffic signals, storm drainage and freeway vertical clearance. This project is estimated to create 350 new jobs over the life of the project.
Date Palm Drive - Groundbreaking May 13, 2011
Over the next two years, construction is expected to start on the Date Palm Drive interchange project. This will widen existing overcrossing on each side to accommodate a total of six lanes of traffic, including bike lanes on each side. This project is estimated to create 350 new jobs over the life of the project.
Monterey Avenue - Construction Expected Spring 2012
Over the next two years, construction is expected to start on the Monterey interchange project. This will modify on and off-ramps and create 150 new jobs over the life of the project.
Jefferson Street - Project Approval/Environmental Document in Progress
The Jefferson Street project will demolish the existing bridge and northbound Indio Boulevard overcrossing and replace it with a new six-lane bridge with bicycle lanes on each side and sidewalk on northbound side of Jefferson Street. It will also realign and widen portions of Varner Road and add traffic signals at the ramps and intersection of Jefferson Street and Varner Road. This project is estimated to create 500 new jobs over the life of the project.
Mecca Downtown Street Revitalization – Phase Two Under Construction
The Mecca Downtown Street Revitalization plan comprises construction of approximately seven miles of street, sidewalk, curb and gutter, and street light improvements for fifteen streets within the 1.3 square-mile downtown area. These are all basic infrastructure amenities that were lacking in Mecca.
This extensive $22 million renovation project will be completed in several phases, with the first phase completed in May 2010. Phase two started construction in January 2011. Planning for this project began in October 2004, with the project’s guiding principles established in November 2007.
Phase one construction began in October 2009 and included roadway, sidewalk and street light enhancements along Second Street.
Mecca Roundabout – Construction Expected November 2011
A modern roundabout is expected to start construction in November 2011 at Fourth Street and Hammond Road in Mecca.
"This reconfiguration will improve the flow of traffic and increase safety at Mecca’s primary entrance," said Supervisor John J. Benoit. "Initially, the roundabout will take time to develop familiarity to navigate and the project itself will have a few weeks of street closures."
The latest project in the Mecca Downtown Revitalization Plan, the single-lane roundabout will keep traffic moving efficiently around a central island, without stop signs or traffic signals. The design requires merging drivers from Fourth Street and Hammond Road (northbound and southbound) to yield to drivers in the circulating roadway of the roundabout.
The roundabout will accommodate the estimated 9,000 daily vehicles and a peak hour vehicular traffic of more than 1,200 vehicles. This entry is used by residents, agricultural businesses, commercial trucks and tourists traveling to the Painted Canyon.
In addition to providing a transportation solution for a complex intersection adjacent to a railroad crossing, the roundabout will be a grand gateway to Mecca with palm trees, landscaping, decorative walls and an entry monument installed as part of the project.
The $2.945 million project is funded by $2 million in Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Funds, with the remainder by redevelopment.
Roundabouts are common in Europe and are gaining popularity in Southern California. In Riverside County, there are two, multi-leg two-lane roundabouts by Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa in Cabazon, two in La Quinta (Old Town La Quinta and Jefferson Street and Avenue 52) and plans for future roundabouts in the Wine Country area of Temecula Valley.
Fred Waring Widening
The conceptual plan for the preferred alternative for Fred Waring can be viewed here.
COMPLETED:
Mesa Verde Roads – Completed Spring 2009
Complete resurfacing of all roads, including west side roads which had never been paved before, was accomplished this summer. All roads are now up to county standards, and as a result traffic enforcement can take place within Mesa Verde.
Bermuda Dunes – Completed 2009
Over $4 million was invested by the Riverside County Transportation Department into Bermuda Dunes roads projects, including 3 miles of paving, median improvements and retention basins.
Thousand Palms Beautification – Varner and Monterey Completed Fall 2009
A major $10.5 million facelift to the central part of Thousand Palms, focusing on two of the community’s main thoroughfares – Varner Road and Monterey Avenue – was completed in October 2009.
The improvement project on Monterey and Varner was designed to enhance entry roadways to the community, add more traffic capacity to the roads, rehabilitate poor street sections, relieve flooding problems and improve the community aesthetics. The project included street improvements to ultimate right-of-way to include installation of curbs, gutters, sidewalks, drainage systems, paving and striping. The project also included removal of the signal at Broadmoor and Monterey and extending the median. The project widened Monterey Avenue to four lanes of parkway with center turn lane. In order to encourage pedestrian traffic along these roads, the project includes new sidewalks.
In addition, on the east side of Monterey Avenue an eight-foot wall was constructed for both aesthetic and traffic noise improvements. Street drainage improvements along Monterey Avenue will eliminate the historical flooding problem in this area. More improvements are ongoing. The street improvements included reconstruction of Monterey from Varner Road and the widening of Varner Road.